[Chaos-l] observing in Afghanistan

[Allen Davis]

Yes you are correct..an interesting point.  allen

 

From: walter fowler [mailto:walterfowler at gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 10:12 PM
To: Allen Davis
Cc: Michael Hrivnak; chaos-l
Subject: Re: [Chaos-l] observing in Afghanistan

 

It almost got Galileo killed.  And something similar did get Giordano Bruno
killed.  Tolerance is a relatively new concept and recent events show that
it may still be fragile!  I'm all for outreach.  WF

On Wed, Jul 13, 2011 at 9:27 PM, Allen Davis <starstorm151 at embarqmail.com>
wrote:

Yes, that is pretty amazing.

I know, as I am sure most of you do, about this confusion between astronomy
and astrology.  I was at the Rocky Mount Library...which you think would
emply relatively knowledgeable people in general.  It is actually a pretty
nice library.  A friend of mine works there and she was introducing me to
coworkers.  She told each one about my long involvement and interest in
astronomy. When I was leaving, my friend asked one the the last  people I
saw if she wouldn't be interested was interested in astronomy (she had
already told her about this when I met her earlier).  The lady said,
well.....not really.

I went up to her and said, "You do realize that I don't read palms but I
look through a telescope?"  Well, she looked embarrassed and said...."Oh
Stars and planets, horoscopes."  I said....yes.....and I was glad I cleared
that one up before I left!

She looked at me like I had two heads.

I find that astronomy is still an area where there really is great deal of
not only confusion, but misinformation.  And sometimes complete ignorance.
It is one reason I enjoy letting the public use telescopes at Medoc.
Sharing this is important.

We actually did have someone show up one time a long time ago at Medoc who
thought we were actually doing a program on horoscopes and palm readings
etc....after seeing the program advertised.

So if it is that bad here, I can only imagine what it could be like in a
very superstitious or mistrustful culture.

But it is nice to read that someone is trying.  This can be a very unifying
interest.  I can only imagine what it could be like wondering if just
setting up a telescope would get you killed.  allen

-----Original Message-----
From: chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org] On
Behalf Of Michael Hrivnak
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 7:00 PM
To: chaos-l
Subject: [Chaos-l] observing in Afghanistan


This is an interesting article about amateur astronomers in
Afghanistan.  In addition to dealing with light pollution and
mosquitoes, they have to deal with Taliban and US forces possibly
mistaking them for combatants.  Yikes!

http://www.universetoday.com/87231/the-challenges-%E2%80%93-and-dangers-%E2%
<http://www.universetoday.com/87231/the-challenges-%E2%80%93-and-dangers-%E2
%80%93-of-amateur-astronomy-in-afghanistan/> 
80%93-of-amateur-astronomy-in-afghanistan/

Michael
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